Weather

Ian Hutton. During the week ending 10th of May, Lord Howe Island experienced extreme low tides – tens of centimetres lower than the published tidal predictions which are based on calculations of astronomical movements of the sun and moon around the earth, creating gravitational pull on the world’s oceans. This variation from the predicted tide level is caused by a sea level anomaly.

100 juvenile Barra were released in the Palmerston Recreational Fishing Lakes ahead of the Hooked on Palmerston fishing competition... The Barra are released into waterways where they would not usually occur such as isolated lakes, lagoons and dams, providing easy-to-access and safe land based fishing opportunities where fishers of all ages and abilities can participate in this iconic Territory pastime.

Australia’s farmers are expected to plant 23.55 million hectares to winter crops this year – up more than three per cent on 2023 – despite a mixed start to the season across the country, Rabobank says in its 2024/25 Australian Winter Crop Outlook ... This year’s winter crop planting – representing a 3.6 per cent increase on 2023/24 though down 1.8 per cent on the five-year average...

The furrowed brows of farmers continue to search the sky rain, but the season is on track for the driest May on record. Since last August most of the region’s farming land has experienced less than 10 per cent of normal rainfall since 1900, and less than five per cent in some areas.

Growers could soon have tailored local weather forecasts directly at their fingertips through a ground-breaking program that leverages the cutting-edge capabilities of artificial intelligence and machine learning combined with traditional weather forecasting techniques … the $1.3M initiative … is tailored to meet the specific needs of individual growers, considering their farming block, unique terrain and operational requirements.

Seeding is underway for most Australian grain producers with many in parts  of western and southern Australia reducing their canola plantings as they continue to wait for a proper season break  in the absence of any rain. The longer growing season required by canola had  many growers pinning their hopes on an April break according to Grain Producers Australia Chair Barry Large.  

The 2024 cotton harvest in the Murrumbidgee Valley is proving to be a bountiful one, bouncing back from the challenges of the previous season. Early concerns surrounding cold snaps, erratic rainfall and storm damage have given way to optimism, with many growers reporting above-average yields.

A natural phenomenon captured the attention of night owls and early birds across southern Australia on the weekend. Aurora Australis, also known as the southern lights, is a natural display of vivid colours in the sky caused by geomagnetic storms.

I was working for the WA Minister for Agriculture Ken Baston back in 2010, during the last big drought and, like Jackie Jarvis with the current dry, he had to deal with calls from industry for the Government to do something. At the time, as Chief of Staff, I asked the Department what the State's legislated responsibilities were when it came to dry seasons and the advice that came back was pretty simple - ‘soils and animal welfare', that’s it. Farmers were on their own when it came to subsidies for fodder or transport.

Farmers have welcomed an announcement by the Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Rockhampton today regarding the next phase of the Future Drought Fund (FDF). National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) President, David Jochinke, said the FDF was central to making producers more resilient in the face of current and future droughts.

Mango growers on the Atherton Tablelands have been facing severe challenges due to the catastrophic effects of Ex Tropical Cyclone Jasper, which occurred in December 2023. The industry has experienced significant setbacks ... necessitating a call for fair disaster recovery support ... The disparity in recovery funding between the agricultural sector and other industries, notably tourism, has sparked significant concern and mistrust among growers.

Frank Batini. I have observed patterns of foliage scorch, some tree deaths and then recovery in the northern jarrah forest for 22 years. These can be readily explained in terms of soil depth, water-holding capacity, winter rainfall and summer drought ... My hypothesis is that this forest has repeatedly shown resilience to drought ... This is the “good news”, as opposed to the alarmism of other commentators.

... the water reserves in WA farmers' dams are now running dangerously low and farmers are being forced to quit stock at rates that are competitive with the price of a bullet ... What's the trade got to do with the weather? For our farmers, the link is so obvious they remain dumbfounded that the Government has not joined the dots.

Patricia Gill. Forests and reserves around Denmark have been hit by a ‘forest collapse’ event as the region struggles through a dry six months and feed for farms is depleting. Murdoch University fire and plant ecologist Dr Joe Fontaine says Denmark and South Coast regions may not be having the driest spell on record but the ecology was suffering due to an unusually long summer.

Expansion of the NSW State Emergency Services at Narrandera Airport in conjunction with the NSW SES is taking place as a result of co-operation between the state body and the Narrandera Shire Council. As previously announced the Council approved the usage of the southern section of the airport hangar…

Ian Hutton. It depends on how you read the Bureau of Meteorology data - maximums, minimums, average daily etc ... However, if we take a simple measure of the number of days with maximums over 28 degrees C, then summer of 2023/2024, was Lord Howe’s hottest on record.

A new weather radar in Tennant Creek is a step closer to construction with the Bureau of Meterology lodging a development allocation to build it at the Bill Allen Lookout. Member for Barkly Steve Edgington took a trip out to the proposed site with long-time resident Mike Nash, who has been fighting since 2015 for its return after it was decommissioned by the Bureau.

As if all the promise to see a Grumman Avenger, a Delorian, or Paul Bennet performing his acrobatics is not enough, the Airshow Committee are pleased to announce yet another exciting surprise for those planning to attend. Jane Bunn the popular, Channel 7 weather forecaster, has agreed to be the ‘Guest of Honour’ on the day.